In contrast to the small
island of Bali, the province of North Sumatera is large with one of
the biggest lakes in the world, Lake Toba, at its navel. The continuous
mountain of Bukit Barisan, which extends from Aceh at the tip of the
island of Sumatera to Lampung at the bottom of the island, guards
the province on the west side, providing home for thick, tropical
jungles and lush vegetations. As you go down the western mountains
towards the beaches of the east, mountain streams, strong rivers,
and gorgeous waterfalls will accompany you.
Relative to Bali, North Sumatera has very heterogenous ethnic groups,
and thus, cultures. The people of the eastern coasts, also known
as the Malays (Melayu) have markedly different traditions and culture
from the Batak highlanders who live around Lake Toba and Samosir
Island. Further south, the Mandailings and Angkolas, and the Island
of Nias, have yet more flavors of traditions and culture.
There are many places to see in this cultural salad bowl:
Medan
The capital of the province of North Sumatera, Medan houses the
government offices and business centers, effectively making it the
largest city outside of the island of Java. Medan owes its cultural
heritage to the kingdom of Deli, whose place of worship, Mesjid
Agung (Grand Mosque), and palace, Istana Maimun (The Maimun Palace)
undoubtedly show its past greatness.
Lake Toba
Lake Toba, the crater lake in the middle of the province, is a popular
tourist resort, especially the town of Parapat on its shore. Its
cool and dry mountain climate makes it the perfect place to relax.
The Batak Toba and Batak Simalungun people live around Parapat.
The Batak people, composed of Batak Toba, Simalungun, Pak-Pak, and
Karo, are known for their expression, which is often materialized
in lively and sentimental love songs. If every person in Bali can
carve, every person in Batak can sing or play the guitar.
The Karo highland
As you drive south from Medan into the Karo highland, the Great
Bukit Barisan Forest Park greets you with its distinctive Karonese
gazebo decorated with ret-ret, a two-headed, lizard-like animal
that is carved on the walls of traditional Karonese family houses.
Along the windy, mountainous road to the Karo highland, as you pass
the Sibolangit National Garden, chants of monkeys and possibly orang-utans
will accompany you, mysteriously appearing and disappearing from
the thick jungle.
The town of Berastagi, located at the foot of Mount Sibayak, will
greet you with its lovely flowers. The smell of fresh vegetables
and the colorful and aromatic arrangements of fruit will etch their
place in your memory. Try markisah (Passion Fruit)...
Sipiso-piso Waterfall and Tongging
Further south from Berastagi and Kabanjahe, the Karonese portion
of Lake Toba is marked with a thin yet tall waterfall.
Nias
Island Off to the west of the island of Sumatera, the island of
Nias provides another item in your cultural plate with its distinct
culture. The water surrounding the island is a great place to surf
and to scubadive.
